Staten Island library helps reunite family

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A woman hailing from Massachusetts stopped by the St. George Library recently in hopes of researching her family history. Her information was rather sketchy, but she was able to supply a family name or two and knew that her kinfolk had lived on Staten Island at the turn of the century.

With the help of research librarians and genealogy research collection resources in the St. George branch, she not only found out more about her family’s history but was able to track down an aunt and a cousin of whose existence she had been unaware.

Finding her cousin’s name in the telephone book, she called him a few weeks ago, and now he’s sending her photos and other material about their family.

Kate Stober of the New York Public Library, Manhattan, is anxious to explain that many are jumping into family history right now, with the excitement over the release of the 1940 Census, and it’s a great time for interested family members to trace their own history here on the Island.

"The library has over 300 volumes of books and periodicals about Staten Island people and history; the full run of the Advance (1921 to present) on microfilm; free access to databases like Ancestry.com, where you can look up Census and other records; atlases and maps, and WPA photographs of almost every building on the Island, circa 1940. Perhaps even more importantly, there are patient, experienced and trained librarians whose job it is to assist you in any way possible," says she, and invites locals to come forward.

HERE’S JOHNNY P

Watch for Late Night with Johnny Potenza — better known as Johnny P — during an hour music-and-variety cable show, of which Johnny P is host and producer.

Johnny has revealed that he rotates with different female co-hosts from show to show and month to month — and that the late-night presentation is recorded live on the fourth Thursday of each month at Staten Island Community TV before a live audience. The show is now in its fifth season.

"It features acts from local and national actors, producers, comedians, authors, as well as all forms of music artists — rock, hip hop, pop and heavy metal," says Johnny, who adds that the production airs on both coasts on Time Warner, Verizon Fios and Cablevision — and folks can view clips and full shows on YouTube & Vimeo TV.

A musician, Johnny explains he has been in the music business as a drummer since he was in high school — to this day, he enjoys playing drums and guitar.

Johnny’s goal? — to have the show picked up by a major network or high-end cable network. We’ll keep you posted!

CLASSIC PRESENTATION

The Staten Island Children’s Theater will present the classic "Fiddler on the Roof" in its junior version on Saturday at 3 and 7 p.m. — what they say will be a wonderful Mother’s Day gift.

The performance may be seen at the Music Hall at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens; the production staff at the children’s theater thought it was the perfect time to revive the family-oriented show to allow students to become as familiar with it as are adults.

"Many of our new students are experiencing this special show for the first time and have become part of a valuable and equally joyous celebration," says Rosemarie Callahan, Children’s Theater musical director.

Tickets can be had at the door. For additional information about the show or about the theater company, kindly telephone 718-981-7288 or consult www.statenislandchildrenstheatre.